Chelsea's Eden Hazard Becomes Part Owner Of NASL Team In San Diego

Eden Hazard is "following in the footsteps" of former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba by becoming part owner of a new football club in the U.S., according to Bob Williams of the London TELEGRAPH. Hazard "teamed up" with fellow pros Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sow -- as well as local investors -- to launch a team in San Diego that will "compete in the second tier North American Soccer League." The "as yet unnamed club" will make its league debut in the spring of '18. Hazard said, "San Diego is a beautiful place and the love and passion the people have for soccer made this an easy choice for us." Drogba recently became football's first player-owner when he joined Phoenix Rising, which plays in the rival second-tier United Soccer League (TELEGRAPH, 6/26). ESPN.com reported San Diego is currently without a professional football team, though a separate ownership group, which includes former U.S. int'l Landon Donovan, is "also trying to win a bid for a Major League Soccer expansion team." That attempt was "dealt a blow" last week after the city council put a vote on stadium development on the '18 ballot, "rather than conduct a special election" in '17. The MLS bid has the support of the mayor but has been "met with controversy," with opponents saying that FS Investors is "primarily concerned with its massive SoccerCity development project," which will include hotel and retail space on the site of Qualcomm Stadium, the former home of the NFL San Diego Chargers. The NASL team's president, Bob Watkins, said that his group was "soccer specific" in contrast, and is "purposely avoiding a downtown venue in favor of a 10,000-seat stadium that could open as early as next August." Watkins: "We want to develop soccer through this professional opportunity. We are not in the real estate development business and don't want to use soccer as a ploy to get a real estate project going." The club will start play at the University of San Diego's Torero Stadium, "which previously hosted a women's professional team" (ESPN.com, 6/26).